There’s nothing quite like live sport, getting some friends together, and heading out for a pint, parmy and maybe a punt. For Australian venues, this cultural norm represents an exceptional revenue opportunity. 

For patrons, there are few things more exciting than getting some mates together to head out and watch the action live together. Industry data indicates the love of sport is so great, that Australia leads the world in terms of willingness to travel to watch it live. 

Between the Australian Grand Prix, AFL, NRL, A-League, Rugby Union, State of Origin, and UFC title fights, there is non-stop action for venues to capitalise on. All these codes help to bring in more patrons, who are willing to spend more per head, sustained over several months. 

Co-owner of the Cathedral Hotel, Kym Broad, told the ABC: “Even with the fuel stuff at the moment, punters are flooding in the doors, and they’re enjoying themselves, having a few beers and a schnitty, so it’s all good.” 

Key to making the most of this opportunity is capturing as many revenue opportunities as possible, while controlling input costs. This is where Voice AI solutions, like Sadie, can help profit-savvy venues to increase revenue off the back of sports season.  

The MVP Defender

Reduce Missed Calls to Capture More Bookings 

Staff can’t be everywhere at once, and industry data indicates that venues miss on average, 40-50% of incoming phone calls. Each of these missed calls can be a missed opportunity to drive revenue. Voice AI solutions like Sadie make sure not a single call is missed, capturing more high-intent enquiries.

With multiple codes running over the same season, there’s no stopping patrons calling to confirm they can watch the UFC, while the venue is in the middle of showing State of Origin.  

For customers, Sadie’s ability to handle general enquiries and bookings end-to-end means they get the answer they’re after, even if staff can’t get to the phone. 

Sadie can also handle calls simultaneously, something not even the best staff member can do. It’s no problem at all for Sadie when multiple people call on their break, during the lunch rush, to check that they’ll be able to watch the Origin that night. 

Eyes on the Ball

How Smarter Staffing Lowers Operating Costs 

Maximising profit isn’t just about increasing revenue; it’s about increasing revenue while controlling input costs, and making the most of the resources you have available. 

In Australian hospitality, labour costs are one of the biggest costs of operation, sometimes upwards of 30% of revenue. Not only this, but Australia is facing a staff shortage in hospitality, and skilled staff are one of the greatest assets a venue can have.  

Like any asset, skilled staff should be deployed efficiently to maximise return on investment. Voice AI receptionists like Sadie help venues support efficient deployment of skilled staff, by allowing them to focus on high-value tasks, while still ensuring the phone is answered. 

A few quick phone enquiries over the course of a shift quickly add up. At $31 an hour for casual staff, their time is far better spent elsewhere, when Sadie can answer every call for a tiny fraction of that cost. 

Over the course of a shift, if a staff member only answers 5 phone enquiries at 5 minutes each, that’s 25 minutes they could have otherwise spent doing things like running stocktake or polishing glassware. 

Patrons phoning up with questions like “are you showing State of Origin” shouldn't take staff away from high-value activities.  

Sadie can easily handle general enquiries and bookings end-to-end, with no need for staff assistance, enabling smarter use of valuable staff time.  

Securing the Right Sponsors

Promote and Upsell High-Margin Items 

During sports season, many venues look to offer special menus or promotions to bring in as many patrons as possible, and these have been proven to be an effective promotional tool. Special and set menus for game day can increase profit margins, especially when they are pre-booked.  

Patrons calling the venue already have some level of interest in coming in, so promoting these options can help to improve conversion from call to booking. Upsells are more likely to be taken up by patrons already calling to book, so improving coverage here can help to drive additional revenue.  

Historically, making sure callers are made aware of promotions and upsells over the phone requires training every staff member who might answer the phone, and hoping they don’t forget to do so. 

Of course, every time staff do remember, it extends the time of the call, potentially increasing staff costs.  

With Sadie, venues can be confident that promotions and upsells are called out in every single relevant phone call. No staff training, and no extra staff time spent tied up in phone calls.  

Ready to Sign Your New Star Player?  

Sadie has already completed her pre-season training and can be up and running in-venue within days. Book a demo here to speak to one of our highly experienced team members and see how Sadie can help your venue convert calls into bookings.